Pescara midfielder Sulley Muntari, says people need to come together to fight “the disease” that is racism in soccer.
The former Inter and AC Milan midfielder was booked for complaining about racist abuse during a match at Cagliari on April 30 and subsequently suspended.
The Ghanaian, who has played at three World Cups for his country, said he asked the referee to stop the Serie A match and request that a warning be given to the crowd because of the chanting from a group of home supporters.
Instead, the player was booked for dissent and, after walking off the pitch in protest, was given a second yellow card, leading to an automatic one-match suspension. The ban was overturned on appeal on Friday (May 5).
Serie A’s disciplinary committee did not take any action against Cagliari because it said only around 10 fans were involved in the chanting, although it described their behaviour as deplorable.
In an interview with FIFPRO on Monday (May 8), Muntari said he couldn’t keep quiet any longer and wants other people to speak up against racism and discrimination.
FIFPro said it was surprised that Pescara themselves did not appeal, instead leaving it to the player with the help of the Italian Players’ Union
